Upper School Viewbook 2024-25

What a difference

A DAY MAKES

GRA D E S 9 TO 12

DAY SCHOOL

the right school?

EVERY KO DAY IS DESIGNED JUST FOR DAY STUDENTS. 100% DAY STUDENTS, 100% OF THE TIME. Kids thrive at KO because they are the center of everything we do. Strong friendships are forged through the shared experiences of wading into Trout Brook to analyze its water quality, earning the privilege to grab a snack in Blue Back Square, and participating in games and events together on our beautiful campus.

As a day school, Kingswood Oxford creates and fosters a community that includes the most important people in each student’s life—teachers, advisors, coaches, friends, and family.

This balanced approach of support gives every student the widest possible range of resources to ensure academic success and emotional health. Teachers and advisors know their students well and are always ready to meet specific needs. Students benefit from 360 degrees of daily perspective and just the right amount of guidance. As families cheer from the sidelines and applaud from seats in the theater, you won’t find them stepping on the increasingly independent toes of adolescents; rather, they help create the inclusive community that makes KO a special place that values each and every person.

OLIVIA

Junior

Student Government Executive Trumpet Player KO News Editor Shield and Dragon Ambassador Basketball Player

A SNAPSHOT OF A TYPICAL DAY 8:00 Precalculus Honors Accelerated 9:15 Advisee Group 9:35 US History 10:50 Community Time with the KO News 11:30 Lunch 1:00 AP® English 2:15 Instrumental Music: Band 3:00 End of classes 3:30 Basketball 5:30 Head home 8:00 Practice trumpet, prepare announcements for Student Government, research the differences between the British colonies in New England and the Chesapeake region, review Spanish vocabulary and write essay

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I try to set myself to the highest standard I can manage, whether taking more challenging courses or playing an instrument all year.

Sometimes, it can be difficult, but with the support of my teachers, I know I can achieve the goal I’ve set for myself.

It’s very rewarding to see the steady improvement.

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What makes a

A SNAPSHOT OF A TYPICAL DAY

One core value that resonates with me is perseverance.

Coming to KO, I learned to take risks and push myself forward. Even if I was scared, I knew I had to try and do it. I might have failed a few times along the way, but having the experience was always for the better. I’ve grown tremendously as a person.

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8:00 Modern World Studies 9:15 Advisee Group 9:35 English 4 10:50 Community Time with Health Ambassadors Club

EVERY DAY AT KO IS A CHANCE TO DISCOVER SOMETHING NEW— ABOUT YOURSELF, THOSE AROUND YOU, AND THE WORLD.

11:30 Lunch 12:30 French II Honors 1:00 Annotate novel for English essay 2:15 Algebra II Honors 3:00 Classes done for the day 3:30 Tennis Practice 5:45 Catch up with friends 6:00 Head home for family dinner 8:00 Algebra homework, prepare outline and thesis statement for Modern World essay

MATTHEW

Sophomore Musical Theater Dance Captain Thespian Tennis Player

Health Ambassadors Club member Hiking Club member

KO values and meets each student’s academic, social, athletic, and creative needs. 100% of resources for programs, schedules, and facilities are designed for day students—to make rich and meaningful connections with one another in the time we have together.

What makes a

GREAT TEACHER?

KO teachers present challenges that prepare students for the wide range of academic and social issues they will find in the next grade or college.

KO offers a robust and varied curriculum including 18 AP® classes and numerous honors level classes.

WHETHER DISCOVERING NUANCED CONNECTIONS

KO teachers engage in interdisciplinary courses that approach a single topic from different perspectives. Students question assumptions, think more deeply, and understand more broadly in classes like:

in a STEM project or exploring the UN’s sustainable goals in the interdisciplinary Global Cities course, KO’s Upper School students are valued as individual learners with unique personal stories.

Teachers and students forge essential bonds based on mutual respect and trust—bonds that elevate students as they try harder, jump boldly into new territory, and develop the confidence that signals future success.

The Happiness Class (English & psychology)

As a dedicated community of educators, teachers at Kingswood Oxford are collaborators in each student’s academic experience.

They understand their students well and always know how much to challenge and support them. Teachers listen more than they talk— differentiating instruction according to each student’s strengths and always helping them advance to their own next level.

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Know Yourself (English & psychology) Global Cities & Cultural Landscapes (history, politics, & anthropology) Literature of Climate Change (English & science)

Before KO, I liked learning languages, but it was never my passion. But my teacher here transformed how I think about the subject. All the teachers at KO are so passionate about what they teach and how they teach their classes. It’s infectious. It makes all the students feel passionate about the subject, too.

- SAM, sophomore

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KO’s signature Team Tobati Service Learning in Paraguay provides students opportunities to apply KO’s value of ‘care beyond self’ with a global focus.

KO’s humanities classrooms support student-led discussions using the Harkness method.

What makes a

The annual Baird Symposium Writer Series hosts world renowned writersin-residence to lead workshops and engage in deep-diving dialogue.

GREAT WRITER?

The Senior Thesis is a culminating research and writing project that draws on literary texts, academic scholarship, and the student’s own insights.

allowing us to tell and preserve our stories and understand the stories of others. At KO, we know that writing must be mastered as a skill before it can become art, and that takes practice.

KO students are multiple award winners in several annual writing contests, including the National Cum Laude Society’s National Thesis Competition.

Because the world demands that we write across all areas of life, writing practice happens across all areas of our curriculum. Students don’t just write English compositions. They write lab reports and math problems and history research papers—always perfecting both style and content while cultivating their independent voices.

Writing becomes more refined, well-researched, and complex. By the time they graduate, KO students are confident communicators and know that a blank page is something to be relished.

Co-curricular writing opportunities allow KO students to further develop their written voice such as the KO News, epic, Power of Women newsletter, and Gwendolyn Brooks poetry contest.

WRITING IS ALL ABOUT COMMUNICATION. It connects us—

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I learned to love writing at KO and was inspired to pursue it in college. My teacher was so passionate about the subject matter and made literature accessible.

- KATHERINE ’14 Boston University Class ’18, B.S. Journalism, Public Relations/Journalism Professional

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KO’s IMPACT Program empowers students to become architects of their own learning, fostering essential skills, igniting curiosity, and inspiring meaningful change in our world.

What makes a

CRITICAL THINKER? SCIENCE, MATH, ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGY ARE NATIONAL AND LOCAL PRIORITIES. Similarly, here at KO, the spirit of innovation and discovery is vibrant in our LEED-certified Chase •Tallwood Science Math Technology Center.

Students learn real-world concepts, then apply them with hands-on experiments. The Center provides state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratory spaces, a greenhouse, and aquariums, which encourage our students to explore energy-efficient designs, build model roller coasters, and experiment with chemical concepts.

Student-driven clubs enhance the STEM experience such as 1080 Computer Club, Biology Club, Aviation Club, and the Mathematics Club. Co-curricular activities such as esports and robotics allow students to pursue their passions beyond the classroom.

My experience in KO’s mathematics and science courses not only provided me with a foundational knowledge base from which I continue to draw even as a medical student, but also instilled in me an appreciation for a rational and scientific manner of thinking.

- ROBERT ’15 University of Rochester ’19, B.A. Chemistry Quinnipiac University Medical Student

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KO’S IMPACT PROGRAM TODAY’S LEARNING FOR THE JOBS OF TOMORROW. Embark on a transformative

Advanced technology enables KO to offer expanded technical courses such as computer science, game theory, and marine biology. To allow students to dig deeper and apply their learning, our intentionally designed IMPACT Lab courses push students’ critical thinking skills while focusing on experimentation and creation.

Discovering meaning at the intersection of different disciplines, students learn to research, design, and create solutions that address complex challenges.

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- LISA LOEB Head of the Upper School

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journey with KO’s groundbreaking IMPACT Program, shaping the next generation of thinkers and innovators. At KO, we believe in empowering students to become agents of change, driving their learning through real-world challenges and interdisciplinary exploration. These courses immerse students in future-focused skills such as collaboration, communication, and creative problem-solving.

In the Upper School IMPACT Lab courses, students apply their skills to make a tangible impact. From delving into revolutionary civics with “We the People” to pioneering green construction in “Eco-Design & Construction,” and exploring the art of game-making in “Game Makers,” students engage with hands-on experiences and industry experts to deepen their understanding and drive meaningful change. In the KO IMPACT Program, students lead with empathy, curiosity, and a passion for making a difference.

A SNAPSHOT OF A TYPICAL DAY

8:00 Modern World Studies

What makes a

KO STUDENT

thrive?

9:35 Spanish 3 10:50 Community Time with Investment Club

Singer

11:30 Biology

Investment Club member

12:30 Lunch

Volleyball Player

Thespian

2:15 English 4 3:00 Classes done for the day 3:30 Volleyball Practice

powerful relationships that align personal goals with meaningful benchmarks. Teachers take the time to know how each student is progressing and oversee a learning environment that embraces difference. It continues with an advisory program that creates a team of peers, teachers, and families who help students advance long-term objectives as well as navigate social interactions on our campus. We know it’s often the in-between moments that shape a path to success.

5:30 Head home in time for dinner with family 8:00 Prep for project in Biology, practice Spanish presentation, annotate novel for English class

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KO does a great job highlighting people’s skills and interests. You are comfortable showing your true self. Here, I have found my identity and my true passions of service learning and leadership.

I have been able to use, strengthen, and leverage my abilities, and I’ve learned to put myself out there in the real world.

- NIDHI, senior

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Even though I danced when I was younger, I was nervous about trying out for the musical. The dance captain built my confidence, and everyone was incredibly supportive. We even had Broadway stars teaching us routines, elevating the entire program. It opened my eyes to what my next few years at KO will look like. It’s really cool.

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Student development is not an after-thought; it’s an ever-present thought—woven into the fabric of our core values and supported by sequential social-emotional programs that help kids adjust. KO students explore endless possibilities to find new interests and strengths. They are also good neighbors—proud to be a part of and proactively serving their local communities. KO students make an impact in ways they never imagined and demonstrate the importance of growing confidence, compassion, independence, and self-advocacy.

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Sophomore

9:15 Advisee Group

1:00 Work on Algebra II equations

THRIVING AT KO IS IN THE DETAILS. It starts with the

DANICA

KO has stressed the importance of self-advocacy, and I know that it will serve me well in college and my career. When I first started, I was reluctant to approach teachers.

I’ve learned to lean on them for support and let them know I want to be in their class or start a club. I took the initiative to start the Marine Biology Club and made it happen. KO gave me the confidence to see my idea through, and now we’re doing labs, making presentations at assembly, and organizing a river clean-up.

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A SNAPSHOT OF A TYPICAL DAY

CHARLIE

Junior

Marine Biology Club member Classics Aficionado Soccer Player Tennis Player

8:00 AP® Latin 9:15 Advisee Group 9:35 AP® Chemistry 10:50 Community Time with Marine Biology Club 11:30 AP® English 12:30 Lunch 1:00 Precalculus 2:15 Peer tutoring 3:00 Classes end for the day 3:30 Soccer 5:30 Head home for dinner with family 8:00 Read Virgil’s Aeneid, finish Precalculus homework, prepare for Chemistry lab

A strong advisory program ensures a student thrives. The KO advisory program includes frequent small peer group meetings, where students explore current events, social-emotional wellness, and academic best practices.

Every student has an advisor who communicates regularly with teachers, coaches, and KO adults— providing valuable perspective and context for advisee families.

Developmentally appropriate goals in five categories help students grow their academic and social aptitudes, while fulfilling KO’s mission and core values: - Self-awareness - Making connections - Self-advocacy - Time management - Organizational skills Twice a year, students lead conferences with their advisors and parents/guardians, keeping goals current and assuring continual progress.

Advisors work with the same group of students for two-year grade rotations fostering strong relationships during distinct phases of their high school journey.

What makes a

We offer more than club and co-curricular activities each year.

There is always something new to try and always a way to explore an interest in depth outside the classroom.

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COMMUNITY

strong?

Community partnerships extend learning and service beyond the campus with meaningful initiatives:

BUILDING A STRONG COMMUNITY starts with people sharing common values and working together in pursuit of both collective and individual goals. A strong community affirms that every member is important, belongs, and contributes to the common good. As KO’s motto attests, ‘one conquers by conquering oneself’—by strengthening individuals, we strengthen the whole. We lift each other up, elevate each other’s voices, and celebrate our differences.

We welcome parents, guardians, and families into our fold—knowing that they enrich our shared experience and animate the inclusive partnerships that define us.

- The Hidden Histories Project seeks to recognize and honor the contributions of the enslaved people who helped build local communities.

- The Human Rights Asylum explores current refugee asylum cases with University of Connecticut Law fellows.

At the same time that we focus on personal growth, we reach outside of our community, lending our combined strength to support those around us and around the world. Service gives our hard work meaning and demonstrates what it means to ‘care beyond self.’

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Leadership opportunities enliven every day on and off campus and through The Margaret E. and Henry R. Roberts Center for Leadership.

- Our student-led Lunch and Lead Program welcomes professionals to campus to discuss leadership, entrepreneurship, and goal setting.

KO is a very open environment, and everyone, from students to teachers, encourages you to try something new. I’ve learned that I’m a multifaceted person with very different interests. Everyone accepts each other and understands that there’s not one way to “do” high school. My friends are the best support system.

- TEAGUE, junior

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- Habitat for Humanity allows students to help build a home in the local community. Students also visit a residential living facility to problem-solve issues for their community members.

Music curriculum includes instrumental, vocal, and digital instruction.

What makes an

ARTIST

Performing arts curriculum includes acting, dance, public speaking, and stagecraft/set design.

Two major theatrical productions are staged yearly—a musical and dramatic play.

a great creator?

Additional black box theater performances broaden opportunities for participation and audience appreciation.

THE ARTS AT KO ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF EVERY DAY. Both visual and performing arts inform how we express ourselves, how we appreciate each other, how we stretch and develop confidence, and how we solve problems. It allows our Wyverns to develop themselves more broadly.

Multiple Halo awards include best musical in 2020, 2022, and 2024, best choreography, best actress in a musical, best musical duo, best running crew, and best theater program in the state of Connecticut that raises the bar.

Artists learn to go beyond drawing a bicycle with precision. The arts serve as a vehicle for students to find the courage to try something new, to collaborate, and to create something bigger than themselves. Through the arts, students dig deep to develop a point of view and find a meaningful way to share a part of themselves.

Whether through the visual, digital, or performing arts, KO students’ ability to express themselves is as wide as their imagination.

Broadway@KO features workshops, critiques, and masterclasses with leading Broadway actors and dancers working directly with our performing arts students.

The Composer Colloquy Visiting Artist Series brings an internationally recognized composer to KO each year to meet and work with students.

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The musical theater program at KO is a most special experience. We’ve worked with Broadway actresses like Jessica Lee Goldyn from A Chorus Line in an intensive. I learned so much and felt such growth as a performer from these experiences. I will never forget how fortunate I was to learn from such a legend, and the knowledge she bestowed upon my peers and me will motivate and inspire me for years to come. KO’s performing arts program has given me opportunities I couldn’t have received anywhere else.

- ZAIRE, senior

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Visual arts curriculum includes painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, media arts, photography, and filmmaking.

The Studio Art IMPACT Lab co-curricular, Explore HARTford, expands the potential for creativity.

Creative Club opportunities include the literary magazine, fashion magazine, fashion show, student newspaper, Beatmaking Club, Ukelele Club, coffee house event, and yearbook.

The Choreographer Showcase co-curricular offering pairs KO dance students with local professional choreographers to workshop and perform original works.

KO teams compete in the Founders League, Fairchester League (ice hockey and boys’ lacrosse), and Evergreen League (football).

What makes an

ATHLETE

20%

a great teammate?

of KO graduates play collegiate sports in Division I, II, or III.

THE VALUE OF SPORTS AND PLAYING ON A TEAM EXTENDS FAR BEYOND CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS AT KO. Students

We take pride in consistent league and NEPSAC awards, including softball and girls’ tennis NEPSAC championships in 2024.

here love to win, and they also appreciate their deep friendships with teammates and the shared commitment to achieving something bigger than themselves. Some KO athletes are elite players—looking to take their game to the next level and play competitively in college. Others are trying a sport for the first time and relish the opportunity to learn a new skill and be on a team. At KO, we support our athletes in reaching their fullest potential while also maintaining a lifelong love of sports and fitness.

Athletics come alive through our student community supporting each other each season especially at special events such as Hewett Day and the KO Invitational Tournaments.

Regardless of prior experience, KO Wyverns grow on and off the field.

Our athletes are team players, creative problem solvers, persistent in the face of adversity and gracious in victory. A KO athletic experience helps develop skills that will win championships and also prepare our players for future success.

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My team is my family. Everyone is supportive and kind. We spend a ton of time together, whether traveling to and from games, in practice, or for team gatherings. We push each other to be the best athletes and best people we can be.

- CHELSEA, senior

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US interscholastic teams, including

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varsity teams, provide athletes multiple opportunities to excel.

FALL

WINTER

SPRING

Cross Country Esports Field Hockey Football Soccer Volleyball

Basketball Ice Hockey Squash Swimming & Diving

Baseball Golf Lacrosse Softball Tennis Track & Field

What makes a

KO GRADUATE

successful?

KO GRADUATES LEARN TO NAVIGATE THE ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL COMPLEXITIES OF THE WORLD. Their true strength lies in their ability

College counseling classes help ignite thought and guide the college search and application process.

to manage situations they haven’t previously encountered. As confident, selfaware learners, our graduates know they can rise to any challenge. As loyal friends, they can boldly stand up for what is right and lift up the voices of others. As strong leaders, they listen, empower others, and get things done.

As people of good character, they model a code of behavior that is grounded in kindness, respect, and compassion. KO students leave KO better than they found it and are ready to make their mark in the world.

Regular meetings with a college counselor—both individually and with families—promote open communication.

Students learn to collaboratively develop a list of potential colleges and universities with their families.

A PERSONALIZED FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE COUNSELING CURRICULUM HELPS STUDENTS KNOW THEMSELVES. The college search process at KO stretches students beyond writing and submitting applications. Students reflect on what they love to do and how they learn best to determine their college choice. KO’s college counselors work hand-in-hand with student advisors in 9th and 10th grade to facilitate this process of self-

Students take the PSAT and the Pre-ACT and work with their counselor to establish a standardized testing plan.

discovery before embarking on the formal journey in their 11th grade year.

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Students have the opportunity to connect with 120+ college representatives who visit KO each year.

I’ve seen my children grow from shy young men to very bold adventurous young men at KO. They’ve learned to advocate for themselves, and they have the tools to do just that. The college counseling process was seamless; the counselor knew my son, and they worked together and guided him to find the right fit based on many conversations over the years.

- ANTHANETTE MAPP P’24, ’25

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Admission professionals and guest speakers host workshops to share insights and advice.

100%

of KO students matriculate to a four-year college or university.

170 Kingswood Road West Hartford, CT 06119-1430 860.727.5000 admissions@kingswoodoxford.org

OUR MISSION Kingswood Oxford inspires students to excel and to lead lives of integrity and involvement by nourishing their talents in a community of teachers, friends, and families.

OUR MOTTO

VINCIT QUI SE VINCIT ONE CONQUERS

BY CONQUERING ONESELF OUR CORE VALUES Demonstrate honesty, integrity, and respect Learn with passion and perseverance Embrace intellectual curiosity Care beyond self Take personal responsibility Work hard, take risks, become involved

Kingswood Oxford School admits students of any race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic predisposition, national and ethnic origin, or any other categories protected by Connecticut or federal law to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of these characteristics in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and financial assistance programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.